Electrical appliance switch



Jan. 18, 1944. c. R. M MANN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE SWITCH Filed Oct. 2,1942 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 18, 1944 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICEELECTRICAL APPLIANCE SWITCH Carl R. McMann, Columbus, Ohio ApplicationOctober 2, 1942, Serial No. 460,574

2 Claims.

My invention relates to electric iron circuits, and has among itsobjects and advantages the provision of an improved switch stand andelectric iron combination wherein the iron is provided with a terminalmeans coacting with the switch stand to close the circuit through theiron when the latter is rested on end on the stand, in which the standis provided with a terminal socket coacting with the terminal means onthe iron to hold the iron firmly on the stand and to bring the twoterminal units into correct engagement, and in which the switch stand isdesigned with a view to protecting the user from accidental electricalshocks.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of an ironingboard and the switch stand showing the electric iron in position on thestand.

Figure 2 is a face view of the stand.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end view of the iron terminal means, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, theelectric iron I 0 may be of the conventional type with the exception ofthe terminal structure l2. The latter comprises an insulative body l4fixed to the end Wall [6 of the iron by flanges l8 and 20. Two terminalscrews 22 extends through the body 14 and are respectively connectedwith the wires 24 of the heating element (not shown). Each screw isprovided with a contact head 26.

A stand 28 is mounted on the ironing board 30, which stand comprises anannular plate 32 of insulative material and pressed into a bore 34 inthe board 30 to rest on a shoulder 36. Three depending sockets 38 areattached to the plate and project through a bore 40 coaxial with and ofless diameter than the bore 34.

Above the plate 32 is mounted a movable plate 42 of insulative materialand of such diameter as to move freely in the bore 34. Three pins 44 arefixed to the plate 42 and slide freely in openings 46 in the sockets 38.Nuts 48 are threaded on the pins to engage the bottoms of the socketsand limit the upward movement of the plate beyond its position of Figure3.

Each pin 44 is provided with a fiange 50 fitting loosely in itsrespective socket 38. Compression springs 52 are mounted on the pins andinterposed between the flanges 50 and the bottoms of the sockets toyieldingly hold the plate 42 in its normal position of Figure 3. Thetotal spring tension resisting downward movement of the plate 42 is lessthan the weight of the iron l0 so that the plate will move downwardlywhen the iron is rested thereon, the plate being of ample diameter toconstitute a rest for the iron.

Two terminals or contacts 54 extend through and are attached to thebottom 53 of a socket 58 sunk below the top face of the plate 42. Boththe body l2 and the socket 58 are of rectangular contour but of suchrelative sizes as to permit the body to fit easily into the socket,although the body will fit into the socket in either of two oppositepositions of the iron. The spacing and arrangement of the contacts 54are such that the contacts will always engage the contact heads 25 ineither position of the iron.

Attached to the plate 32 are two terminal screws 60 spaced to engage thecontacts 54 when the plate 42 is pressed down. These screws arerespectively connected with wires 62 of an electric circuit cordprovided with a plug 64 for connection with the usual wall outlet. Thiscord is located underneath the board 30 and is out of the way andcompletely detached from the iron at all times. Thus the iron may beeasily handled without interference from the cord.

A spacer 6B is attached to the handle 68 of the iron to rest on theplate 42 and balance the iron in an upright position. While the body 12fits easily into the socket 58, the socket holds the iron on the plate42 and prevents the iron from sliding or being easily pushed off theplate. The springs 52 are so distributed about the plate 42 as toeffectively balance the plate and its load. When the iron is lifted offthe stand, the plate 42 moves upwardly to space its contacts from theterminal 60 as a protection against accidental electrical shocks.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain myinvention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In an ironing board and an electric iron, the combination of a firstmember of insulative material fixed to the board, circuit terminalsattached to the first member, a second member of insulative materiallocated above the first member and movably mounted on said first member,contacts on said second member engageable with said terminals when thesecond plate is moved toward the first plate, resilient means interposedbetween said first and second members to yieldingly hold the secondmember away from said first plate, but yielding when the iron is restedon the second member to bring said contacts into engagement with saidterminals, terminals on said iron engageable with said contacts, andmeans on said second member and said iron vfor locating the iron in apredetermined position on the second member and for bringing theterminals on the iron into aligned engagement with said contacts.

2. In a device of the type described, the combination of a first supporthaving coaxial bores of difierent diameters to provide a, shoulder, afirst plate of insulative material mounted on said shoulder, circuitterminals mounted on said first plate, sockets on said first plateengaging the wall face of one of said bores, an appliance supportingplate of insulative material movable in the other of said bores andhaving appliance contacts engageable with said terminals When theappliance supporting plate is moved in the direction of said firstplate, pins attached to said appliance supporting plate slidably mountedin said sockets, and springs acting on said pins and said sockets toyieldingly hold the appliance supporting plate away from said terminalsbut yielding by the Weight of the appliance resting on the appliancesupporting plate to bring the contacts into engagement with saidterminals.

CARL R. MCMANN.

